Synopses & Reviews
This book explores the trials of Spanish democracy from the death of Franco to the present. But the heart of the story is the generation that came of age in the 1960s, assumed political power, and formed the first Socialist government in 1982 with Felipe González as Prime Minister, which was returned to power in four consecutive elections. Starting in 1993, however, the government came under siege. High officials were accused of authorizing the assassination of as many as twenty-eight Basque nationalists suspected of terrorism over the years, and of covering up these crimes. This scandal, along with other disclosures of corruption and serious law-breaking, shook the country's confidence in its legal and political institutions and in its ability to hold its leaders to the rule of law.
The author probes for the roots of these events in the character of the generation that assumed power and in the immature nature of the civil society it inherited. Facing unusually high unemployment, internal economic and social pressures, the stringent requirements for joining the European Union, and the demands of Catalan and Basque nationalists, the government lost its way and was eventually voted out of office.
Using Spain as the example, the book examines issues of governance, social change, and internal nationalist movements as they relate to the civil society and the wider polity everywhere.
Review
[Spain at the Crossroads's] focus is on public trust, the rule of law and the principle of political accountability. The author's insightful analysis of Spain's problems is a framework applicable to many countries, particularly in Latin America. Arnold Beichman
Review
The most complete English-language account of Spain's efforts to become a 'normal' democracy in the post-Franco years. Focusing on the four-term rule of Felipe González's Socialist Party (1982-1996), the author examines issues such as corruption scandals, Basque and Catalan nationalism, and economic policy with insight and clarity...This compact book provides a surprisingly comprehensive overview of contemporary Spanish affairs. Washington Times
Synopsis
This book explores the trials of Spanish democracy from the death of Franco to the present. But the heart of the story is the generation that came of age in the 1960s, assumed political power, and formed the first Socialist government in 1982 with Felipe Gonzalez as Prime Minister, which was returned to power in four consecutive elections. Starting in 1993, however, the government came under siege. High officials were accused of authorizing the assassination of as many as twenty-eight Basque nationalists suspected of terrorism over the years, and of covering up these crimes. This scandal, along with other disclosures of corruption and serious law-breaking, shook the country's confidence in its legal and political institutions and in its ability to hold its leaders to the rule of law.
The author probes for the roots of these events in the character of the generation that assumed power and in the immature nature of the civil society it inherited. Facing unusually high unemployment, internal economic and social pressures, the stringent requirements for joining the European Union, and the demands of Catalan and Basque nationalists, the government lost its way and was eventually voted out of office.
Using Spain as the example, the book examines issues of governance, social change, and internal nationalist movements as they relate to the civil society and the wider polity everywhere.
Synopsis
Spain at the Crossroads explores the trials of Spanish democracy, focusing on the generation that came of age in the 1960s, assumed political power, and formed the first Socialist government in 1982. Starting in 1993, however, this popular government came under siege when scandals, along with disclosures of corruption and serious law-breaking, shook the country's confidence in its legal and political institutions. Víctor Pérez Díaz probes for the roots of these events in the character of the generation that assumed power and in the nature of the civil society it inherited.
About the Author
Víctor Pérez-Díaz is Professor of Sociology at the Complutense University of Madrid.
Professor of Sociology, Complutense University of Madrid
Table of Contents
Chronology
Introduction: The Historical Process from a Crossroads Perspective
Spain's Transition to Democracy
The Socialists Rule
The Two Faces of a Generation
Public Drama and the Rule of Law
Unemployment
A Political Shift from Left to Right
The Challenge of Nationalism
Becoming a Civil Society by Trial and Error
Notes
Bibliography
Index